Rohit Sharma to captain, Virat Kohli returns: BCCI unveils squad for T20I series against Afghanistan

In a much-anticipated announcement, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) revealed the squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, marking the return of Rohit Sharma as the captain and Virat Kohli to the T20I format after their absence since the 2022 World Cup. The decision to recall the senior duo comes amidst injuries to Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya, who are both unavailable for the series. While openers Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal retain their spots, Ishan Kishan has been excluded, and Sanju Samson makes a comeback, showcasing his white-ball prowess after an impressive century against South Africa last month.

The Indian spin attack will be led by Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Ravi Bishnoi, as Ravindra Jadeja takes a rest. Among the frontline pacers, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, and Mukesh Kumar secure spots, with Prasidh Krishna omitted following subpar performances in the shortest format. The T20I series against Afghanistan is scheduled to begin on January 11, with matches in Mohali, Indore, and Bengaluru. This series holds significance as it serves as India's final T20I competition before the upcoming T20 World Cup in June.

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Rohit Sharma (C), S Gill, Y Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, W Sundar, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav,…

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 7, 2024